Straw scattering attachment



June 29, 1937. G. H. sr-IEARD I STRAW SCATTERING ATTACHMENT Filed March 50, 1936 momeyf l Patented June 29, 1937 Zydli STRAW SCATTERNG ATTACHMENT George lill. Sheard, Athena, Oreg.

Application March Si), 1936, Serial No. 71,775

Z Claims.

This invention relates to straw scattering attachrnents for thrashers of the combine type, and the purpose of the invention is to scatter straw issuing from the thrashing machine as it is moving in the eld where grain is being harvested.

It is an object of this invention to provide novel means for broadcasting or scattering straw delivered to the scattering instrumentalities from the thrashing machine so that the said straw may be distributed over a relatively wide area in a comparatively thin deposit, a condition 'which will facilitate the operation of plowing and the underturning of the straw.

It is a further object of this invention to provide novel means driven by power derived from the thrashing machine and moving with the thrashing machine for accomplishing the foregoing results.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide novel means for directing straw to the scattering instrumentalities and to provide scattering arms with blades at their ends, which blades are curved in the direction of rotation of the arms for the purpose of increasing the efciency of the attachment.

With the foregoing and other objects in View, the invention consists in the details of construction, and in the arrangement and combination of parts to be hereinafter more fully set forth and claimed.

In describing the invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawing forming part of this application, wherein like characters denote corresponding parts in the several views, and in which- Figure l illustrates a view in elevation of a fragment or" a thrashing machine with a device embodying the invention applied thereto;

Figure 2 illustrates a plan view thereof;

Figure 3 illustrates a rear elevation of an attachment in which one set of arms for each shaft is provided;

Figure 4 illustrates a plan view thereof; and

Figure 5 illustrates a sectional view on the line 5 5 of Fig. l.

In the drawing 5 denotes a conventional type of thrashing machine having the usual straw exit or open end 5a and a rear extension t on which the scattering instrumentalities are mounted. Suitable driving gear may be provided, but the inventor does not wish to be limited with respect to this feature. However, a driven shaft l may be mounted on the thrashing machine and power thereof transmitted to the shaft 3 by which the scattering blades are driven, as will presently appear. It is shown that the shaft 8 is connected by suitable gearing to the shaft l in Fig. l, which gearing in turn operates a part of the thrashing machine. In so far as it is the purpose of the inventor to have the scattering attachment operate at the time the thrashing machine is operating, any other suitable means may be provided for driving this scattering attachment.

The shaft 8 is rotatably mounted on the eXtension and it is provided with beveled gear wheels such as 9 and lo which mesh with gear wheels i i and l2, respectively. The gear wheels il and i2 are secured on vertically rotatably mounted shafts I3 and it, respectively, and each shaft has a head i5 which may be in the nature of a collar or sleeve secured on it. In the arrangement shown, the shafts are rotated in opposite directions as indicated by the arrows. Each head has a plurality of arms i6 extending outwardly and upwardly and the said arms are preferably channeled to form seats for the scattering blades or arms il' secured thereto by appropriate fastenings i8 such as bolts or the like. At the outer end of each arm, a blade or iin-like plate l is secured and the plate has its upper edge located above the surface of the arm and its end projecting beyond the arm. The extending end of the plate is curved as shown at 2G and the bend in the direction of rotation of the arms, as indicated by arrows in the drawing. The preferable arrangement of the scattering instrumentalities is that they will operate to throw the straw laterally and rearwardly of the direction of movement of the thrashing machine.

In order to more effectively direct the chaff or straw to the scattering instrumentalities, the rear end of the thrashing machine is provided with an inclined plate 2l shown in Figs. l and 2, the said plate being omitted in Figs. 3 and 4 so that the structural features of the rearwardly extending portion of the thrashing machine may be seen. The plate is secured to the extension in any appropriate mannenas by fastenings 22 anchored to the rearwardly projecting sills or members 23 of the aforesaid extension.

In Figs. l and 2, two sets of scattering instrumentalities are attached to each vertically disposed shaft, these being generally identified by the reference letters A. and B. When the two sets are employed the scattering arms of the upper set are located so that in plan they appear between the scattering arms of the lower set identied by the letter A. By reason of the elevated position of the upper scattering arms, it will serve to propel the straw a somewhat greater distance before the straw reaches the ground and the use of the double set of scattering arms results in a more uniform distribution of the straw.

As the functions of the elements and their operation have been given in connection with a description of the said elements, it is believed that the invention will be understood by those skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. In a straw scattering attachment for thrashing machines operative while traveling, a supporting structure rearwardly of land below the straw discharging end of the thrashing machine, straw scattering means including vertically dislposed shafts journaled in the said supporting structure, sets of arms, one set above the other, secured to the vertically disposed shafts extending outwardly and upwardly therefrom in the path of movement of strawdischarging from the thrashing machine, the arms of the lower set terminating above the plane on which the upper set of arms is connected to said shaft, means for rotating the shafts in opposite directions, a supporting plate extending from the open end of a thrashing machine toward said shafts for directing straw to the scattering means, and blades on the outer end of each arm having their edges projecting beyond the edges of the arms and their ends projecting beyond the ends of the said arms, the said projecting ends being curved in the direction of rotation of the arms.

2. In a straw scattering attachment for thrashing machines operative while traveling, a supporting structure rearwardly of and below the straw discharging end of the thrashing machine, straw scattering means including vertically disposed shafts journaled in the said supporting structure, sets of arms, one set above the other, secured to the vertically disposed shafts extending outwardly and upwardly therefrom in the path of movement of straw discharging from the thrashing machine, the arms of the lower set terminating above the plane on which the upper set of arms is connected to said shaft, means for rotating the shafts in opposite directions, a supporting plate extending from the open end of a thrashingl machine toward said shafts for directing straw to the scattering means, and blades on the outer end of each arm.

GEORGE H. SHEARD. 

